Integrin α11β1 is a receptor for collagen XIII.

Collagen XIII is a conserved transmembrane collagen mainly expressed in mesenchymal tissues. Previously, we have shown that collagen XIII modulates tissue development and homeostasis. Integrins are a family of receptors that mediate signals from the environment into the cells and vice versa.

Phylogenetic relationships and classification of thiolases and thiolase-like proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Thiolases are enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. Thiolases remove the acetyl-CoA moiety from 3-ketoacyl-CoAs in the degradative reaction. They can also catalyze the reverse Claisen condensation reaction, which is the first step of biosynthetic processes such as the biosynthesis of sterols and ketone bodies.

The first identification of carbohydrate binding modules specific to chitosan.

Two carbohydrate binding modules (DD1 and DD2) belonging to CBM32 are located at the C terminus of a chitosanase from Paenibacillus sp. IK-5. We produced three proteins, DD1, DD2, and tandem DD1/DD2 (DD1+DD2), and characterized their binding ability.

Phylogenetic analysis and selection pressures of 5-HT receptors in human and non-human primates: receptor of an ancient neurotransmitter.

Neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) an ancient neurotransmitter, involved in several neurophysiological and behavioral functions, acts by interacting with multiple receptors (5-HT(1)-5-HT(7)). Alterations in serotonergic signalling have also been implicated in various psychiatric disorders. The availability of the genome data of non-human primates permits comparative analysis of human 5-HT receptors with sequences of non-human primates to understand evolutionary divergence.

Evolutionary analysis of PHLPP1 gene in humans and non-human primates.

The chromosome 18q22-23 region has been shown to be implicated in bipolar disorder (BPAD) by several studies. PHLPP1 gene, in the locus (chromosome 18q22-23), is involved in circadian pathways and bears modules like 'PH domain and leucine rich repeat protein phosphatase'. This gene also contains a polyglutamine (CAG or PolyQ) repeat motif at the carboxyl terminal end.